Kenneth Larry "Buddy" Walters

Kenneth Larry Walters, 74 of Wiggins, passed away Thursday morning at Ashbury Hospice in Hattiesburg. He was born December 7, 1946 in Hattiesburg, one of eight children to Louis L. and Alma (Seal) Walters. Kenneth, or Buddy as most knew him, grew up in the Wiggins area and spent most all of his years in Stone county. With his siblings, there was rarely a dull moment around the Walters' home, as he was always into something. He decided that he had enough education after the 9th grade and went to work at Hall's Meat Market. Buddy then started working in construction and concrete, working on many of the roads in South MS. But he wound up settling in at IP, which later became Hood Industries. He operated "the 90", a large machine that unloads the trucks bringing logs into the mill. Maybe that's why most of his co-workers called him "Cadillac". Whatever the reason, Cadillac was on the job for more than 25 years, unloading untold numbers of logs that went through the mill. In 1965 he married Iris Ramsay and they made their home in Wiggins. When he wasn't driving the 90, Buddy enjoyed hunting and fishing whenever possible, along with making pancakes for his daughter on Sunday mornings. A Christian by faith, he helped build Landmark Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Wiggins, where he was a member for many years. A loving brother, husband, father and grandfather, Buddy was a jovial, hard working provider that loved his family more than anything. He will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. Buddy was preceded by his parents, Louis & Alma Walters, sisters Mary Ann Morely and Dorothy Strickland, brothers Cecil and Elias "Blue" Walters, a great-grandson Levi Odom, and his loving wife of more than fifty-five years, Iris. Left to cherish his memories are: his three daughters, Kim Walters (Allen Fore) of McHenry, Dina (Hoho) Matthews and Robin West, both of Wiggins, and one son, Jeremy (Sarah) Collins of Purvis; sisters Peggy Lott and Brenda Joyce Walters of the Sunflower community, and Phyliss Hennis of Wiggins. Buddy leaves a legacy of nine grandchildren: Kyle and Bailey West, Cody and Seth Odom, Annaliesse and Cheyenne Brossett, Haven and Keeli Collins, and Serenity Young, one great-grandson, Luke Odom, along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Services will be held Tuesday, November 30th at Landmark memorial Baptist Church in Wiggins. Visitation begins at 10:00 AM, followed by the funeral service at 12:00 PM. Afterward, Buddy will be laid to rest next to his wife in the church cemetery. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Walters family in their time of need. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers through the coming days.